Train-line coupling.



M. L. BOOKWALTER & S. SAUNOOKE.

TRAIN LINE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1914.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

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M. L. BOOKWALTER & S. SAUNOOKE.

TRAIN LINE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1914.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

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M. L. BOOKWALTER & S. SAUNOOKE.

TRAIN LINBCOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1914 Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

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xprr s ren TRAIN-LINE COUPLING.

Patented Mar. 2, i itfi.

Continuation of application Serial No. 786,7?4, filed August 26, 1913.This application filed march 12, 191d.

. Serial No. 824,085.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Minus L. BOOKWAL- TERand SAMUEL SAUNOOKE, citizens of the United States, residing at Altoona,in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Train-Line Couplings, whereof the follow- 786774,- filedAug. 26, 1913.

ing is a specification.

This invention is designed to provide improved means for automaticallyand certainly coupling together the members of a train line system,comprising fluid conduits and electric conductors, carried by theseveral cars, and for automatically and certainly closing the conduitsof the train line system uponjthe separation of the train line couplingmembers, which is eflected automatically, this application being acontinuation of our application Serial Number An object of our inventionisto provide a construction having the foregoing characteristicfunctions, which will efi'ect automatic registration and reduce the lossof steam and air by leakage to a minimum.

Acfurther object is to provide a simple construction that c'anbe readilyattached to and operated by standard cars.

The characteristic features of our invention will more fully appear fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings in illustrationthereof, in which- Figure 1 is a part sectionalelevation representingour improvements applied to a.

pair of coupled cars; Fig. 2 is a top plan view representing essentialfeatures of our improvements in coupled relation; Fig. 3 is a sectionalview taken on a horizontal plane through the coupling with the membersin the dissociated relation; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the connectedcoupling members.

taken on the line H of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a vertical. sectional viewtaken on the line 5-5of Fig. i; Fig. 6 is a part sectional. elevation ofcoupling members in connected relation; Flg; 7 is a sectional view taken.on

the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the hue 8-8'of Fig. 5 Fig. 9

is a face elevation ofa coupler block; and; Fig. 10 is a sectional viewtaken on the line- 10-10 of Fig. 9.

As shown in the drawings, the cars, 1 have depending therefrom thehangers 2 provided with bearings 2 'which carry coiled springs 3 havingmedian coils 3 fixed in the bearings, the springs contracting from themedian to the terminal coils 3.". Bars 4: are supported within thesprings 3 by the coils 3 and are provided with the flanges 4: forengaging these coils, the springs allowing the bars limited lengthwiseand lateral movements under pressure but restoring them to their normalposition when released.

Concave heads or shells 5 are carried by the bars 4.- and provided withthe top and bottom lugs 5 and 5", the latter having the hubs 5 thereon.

Blocks 6, which are truncated spheroidal segments as shown, arejournaled between the res ective lugs 5 and 5 on the conical valveswhich pass therethrough and are fixed to the respective lugs. Thereduced tops '2' the corresponding lugs 5 by the sleeve nuts 8. Thebottoms of the valves are rovided with segmental clutching members bwhich are engaged by clutching members 9 of bearings 9. These bearings 9are seated in the sleeve bearings 10 j ournaled thereon and screwed intothe blocks 6, the bearings 10 being journaled in the hubs 5 on thebearings llkeyed therein. A coupling 12 with a cylindrical body 12 onwhich the bearing 10 turns has the square heads 12 and 12 engaging therespectiveparts 9 and 11 to fix them together. The part 9 contains aspring 13 which acts upon the valves 7 to maintain them in closelyfitting relation to the conical valve seats 6 in the blocks 6, and plugs11 are screwed into the hubs 5 to hold the bearings 11 in place.

Each of the blocks 6 is provided with fluid passages 6 connected withpipes 14 by hose 14c having unions 14* adapted to be screwed into hollowbosses 6 on the blocks, and each of the valves 7 is provided withpassages 7' which are adapted to be closed blocks 6 in the uncoupledrelation the contacts being normally pressed beyond "the respectivecomplementary fiat faces 6 of the blocks by the springs 17 seated inboxes 18 through the forward and rear ends of which the'contacts andposts are respectively mo able. Each block is provided of the respectivevalves are fixed to I with a segmental dog 19 adapted to be engaged in ase ental recess or catch 20 in t e face of t e' complementary block, thedogs having the respective journals 192 seat-. ed in the bearings G",Bolts 21 are pivotally connected to the respective dogs, movev throughthe bottom 6 of chambers 6* in the blocks and provided with the nuts 6for limiting their movement and the outward movement of the dogs, thelatter being normally held in their outer position by coiled springs 22on the bolts Within the chambers and being movable into the chambersagainst theactions of these springs.

In the operation of the mechanism, with the couplers in the separated.relation'shown in F i'gi 3, the blocks 6 are turned on the valves 7 soas to close the fluid passa es 6*, the valves having such character andconnections that they will preventleakage. As the cars come together,the block faces 6 (which are at an angle to the direction of movementwith the bosses 6? in engagement with the heads 5 to limit such angle)engage, the blocks are turned on the valves to the position shown inFig. 4, first by the actions of the blocks 6- on each other and then bythe action of the respective members 5 on the blocks entering therein,with the bosses in engagement with theheads complemen tary to those bywhich-they are carried, the passages 6* through the blocks and 7 throughthe valves are brought into registration to couple the fluid conduits14:, the contacts 15 of the respective blocks are engaged to couple theconductors 16, and the dogs 19 enter the recesses 20 to hold the blocksin the relation desired for coupling the lines, the dogs being pressedback into the chambers 6 as the faces 6 slide into place and springinginto the recesses 20 when this placeis reached. It will be understoodthat the curved exterior surface of each block and the-curved interiorsurface of; the head carrying the opposite block eflect the adjustmentor guiding operation necessary to bring the parts of the blocks into thedesired registering relation, in the event that thecomplementary partsare for any reason out of line. When the cars are drawn apart, thecontact of the faces 6 supplemented by the action of the dogs 19 turnthebl'ocks 6 from theposition shown in Fig. 42 to that shown in Fig. 3,whereby the lines are disconnected and the fiuid passages closed. I

Iiaving described our invention, we claim: 1. A train line couplingcomprising members: adapted to be connected with respective cars, valvescarried by said members, devices jourlialed relatively to said valvesand having train line sections therein, and train line sectionsconnected in communicating rewith the{trainj line sections of therespective devices in the difiere'nt positions thereof, each of saiddevices being adapted for engaging the member to which it is notjournaled and being automatically turned on bringing them together andthe train line said devices in the different positions thereof, andstationary means for opening and closing the conduits in said devices indifferent positions thereof.

3. A train line coupling comprising members adapted to be connected withrespective cars, devices having bearings journaled in the respectivemembers, passages in the re spective devices and valves on which therespective devices are journaled, said valves opening and closing saidpassages in diiferent positions of said devices.

4. A train line coupling comprising members adapted to be connected withrespective cars, valves carried by the respective mem bers, devicesjournaledon the respective valves, each of said devices containing apassage controlled by the valve on which it is journaled, a train linesection connected witheach of said devices in the di-fierent positionsthereof andcommunicating. with the respective passages, said devicesbeing turned automatically by engagement with said members to open andconnect said passa es.

5. train line coupling comprising members adapted to be connected withres ective cars, bearings on said members, bloc devices on said blocksand journaled in said hearings, each of said blocks containing a passageand an intersecting valve seat, valves in -the respective seats forcontrolling said passages, and springs and supports therefor relativewhereto said blocks are adapted to turn and whereby said; valves arepressed against said seats.

6. A train line coupling comprising substantially spheroidal membersadapted to be fixed to respective cars, devices respectively} providedwith passages and substantially spheroidal surfaces journaled relativelto said members, the spheroidal surface 0 the device connected with onemember adapted to engage the spheroidal surface of the other block isconnected in journaled relation to said member independently of saidvalve.

8. A train line coupling comprising members adapted to be connected withrespective cars and having spheroidal surfaces, valves carried by saidmembers, and blocks journaled on said valves and having spheroidalsurfaces, the spheroidal surface of each of said blocks engaging thespheroidal surfaces of both of said members, said blocksv containingpassages and being journaled eccentrically on said valves.

9. A train line coupling comprising concave members adapted to be fixedto respective cars, in combination With blocks having respectivelyconvex and flat surfaces journaled relatively to said members, saidblocks being turned and brought into registration automatically by theengagement of their fist surfaces and the action of said members so thatthe engaging surfaces shall extend transversely to the direction ofmovement of said members.

10. A train line coupling comprising members adapted to be fixed tocars, devices containing passages j ournaled relatively to therespective members, valves for opening and closing the passages of therespective blocks in different positions thereof, and means carried byeach block for positively turning the other upon separating to closesaid passages.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto setour names this 19th day ofFebruary, 1914, in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

MILES L. BOOKWALTER. SAMUEL SAUNOOKE.

Witnesses:

@ CARL E. HEDBERG,

ADAM LEAKE.

